Chapter 19

Sigh...you know what would be really nice? If even half the 109 people that have this story on alert were to leave a review...(looks out the window) Oohh look, a pig, flying...

Mood, dispondant...

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Chapter 19

Over the next few days, Cloud found himself settling down easily into the new routine the general had implemented. The humiliating and embarrassing walk of shame that he had to endure twice each day, to and from the generals place of work, began to be nothing compared to the shame and disgust he felt for himself, with what he knew would happen upon their return to the generals private quarters.

Always, as soon as they entered the quiet rooms, the tall silver haired man would simply hold out one hand, and Cloud would have to dispense with the meager piece of cloth that was all he had to cover his nudity, untying the rag and handing it over.

Naked again, he would have to drop to his knees, opening his legs wide and presenting himself with his hands held behind his head, holding himself in that position and waiting until the general ordered him to stand, to brace himself against the wall, where Sephiroth would then commence to dish out any number of lashes with the flogger, for misdeeds he claimed Cloud had committed during the day.

And always, always, as Cloud stood there, his head and shoulders stooped, his back and his buttocks aching with the stinging from the blows, he knew what was coming next, and he knew he could do nothing to stop it, no more than he could stop the beatings.

Coming up close behind him, the general would toss the flogger to one side and proceed to run his hands over Cloud, drawing his fingers seductively over the tingling, bruised skin, forcing an arousal from the body that quivered beneath his teasing touch.

Then, satisfied that his prisoner was responding, Sephiroth would reach forward and masturbate Cloud, pumping at the hard young cock until the boy cried out and spilled his seed over the generals tightly clasped fingers.

Sometimes, the general would lick his hand clean of the spillage, but most other times he presented his messy fingers to Clouds mouth. At first, Cloud had refused, had been reluctant to taste his own sperm. But after some brutal persuasion from the general, Cloud no longer hesitated, and if offered now, he would instantly stick his tongue out and start lapping, swallowing the salty tang of his leavings as quickly as he possibly could.

Thankfully, once Cloud had ejaculated and the general had been cleaned off, the man always seemed to be satisfied, and he would let Cloud retire to his pallet, only bothering him again later in the evening, when he would give Cloud some food and drink, and allow him bathroom privileges.

The next day, the entire episode would be repeated.

What Cloud hated the most about it all, was the way his own body prickled with anticipation at the thought of the generals caressing, soothing touch once the punishing beating was over. He had never considered that being touched by another male could be so erotic, and when left alone with only his thoughts to keep him company, he always felt disgusted at the way his cock had so readily responded to the man's touch.

Sometimes, lying on his pallet in the dead of night, Cloud would wish that his tormentor were a female. That way at least, he would have been able to justify to himself the way he reacted to the pleasurable caresses. It would make life so much easier to bear. He knew that he was no longer being considered a prisoner of war, either by the general or any of the others that worked with the silver haired man. Cloud wondered if he had ever really been seen as such. Since the general had first taken possession of him, Cloud had simply become a toy, a plaything.

And that was the biggest hurt and shame that Cloud had to deal with. To be beaten, to be interrogated, to be given a trial and sentenced, Cloud could see the logic and reason to all that. He, like his comrades, would have been able to hold his head up high and do his time, knowing that before long he would be released and allowed to return back to his group a hero, recounting his tales of his bravery around the table with the others, impressing the females and hopefully managing to bed one of them on the strength of his story telling.

But this detainment that he now found himself in... there was no honor or story telling to be gotten from this. Who would want to admit to allies to being an enemy's plaything? And what woman would want to end up beneath him, knowing that a man had touched him intimately, and that he had enjoyed it?

And thinking these thoughts of home, Cloud suddenly became aware of something else. For the past few days, he had not even bothered to look any more for a way to escape. He was becoming use to his new way of life, becoming compliant. And that realization hurt him mentally inside much more than anything the general could do to his body physically.

Cloud began to realize with a touch of desperation, that he had to get away from the man, from his touch, and soon, before his mind and his body succumbed completely. If that happened then he would truly be lost, forever.

"Pour."

The simple command was given and Cloud snapped out of his boredom induced musings, forgetting in an instant all that he had just thought to himself about escaping, readily obeying, jumping up to his feet from his kneeling position and picking up the pitcher of water that was on the general's desk.

Pouring out a glassful he raised the tumbler first to the light to check its cleanliness, before lifting it to his lips and taking several small sips. Only then did he offer it out for the general to take. And as the silver haired man reached for it, his fingers brushed against Clouds, and just for a second blue eyes held the gaze of green, before lowering respectfully down to the floor.

"This water is warm," the general remarked. "Fetch fresh."

Cloud kept the sigh to himself as he placed the pitcher and glass upon a tray. Water that had been left sitting too long, that had been warmed by the sun's rays coming into the room. Of course, another excuse for the general to use when he was beating him tonight.

He was just reaching for the door handle to leave the room, when it opened before him and Commander Zack, the generals second in command came through.

Seeing the almost naked blond boy standing meekly in front of him, both hands holding onto the pitcher and tray protectively, the dark haired man couldn't resist temptation, and slapped hard at the boys pert, barely covered ass as he slipped by.

The slap he gave was hard, and the sound of the boys shocked and surprised indrawn hiss resounded around the room where the other computer workers were, drawing all eyes away from their work and focusing instead on the prisoner, who blushed beetroot red and rubbed at his smarting behind with one hand, while he mouthed off an obscenity towards his aggressor before he could stop himself.

"Bastard!"

Zack suddenly felt torn. It had felt good slapping the boy's ass, but he had not intended for it be so hard, nor for the boy to become an object of ridicule, as laughter and snide comments started up from the watching men.

"Hey, sorry about that," he began, but the boy just slammed his eyes at him and turned his flushed and angry face away, lowering his head against all the barbed comments and jeers thrown his way, and heading quickly towards the cafeteria area, his hand marked ass deriving more snickers and leers as he passed by the white coated workers.

"Why did you apologize?" Sephiroth asked, as Zack walked over to him, holding out the report that had been his reason for visiting.

"Eh?"

"You said sorry for smacking him. Why?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Zack watched as Sephiroth put the report down on the table, unread.

"And you covered for the boy Zack. Don't think I didn't know."

Zack turned innocent eyes towards the general. He knew better than to admit to anything, especially when the man used the same low voice that he was using now.

"And don't try to play ignorant with me. You know what I'm talking about. The removal of the plant in my work room?" A silver brow quirked upwards, and a tiny smirk graced thin lips when Zack still remained quiet. His silence was as good as an admission. "You did a very good job of trying to get rid of the evidence of what the boy did. But you forgot, with my sensitive sense of smell, the stench of fresh urine hit my nasal passages as soon as I entered the room like acid, the odour burning and rancid. The only reason I didn't explode and punish the boy was because he had tried to tell me there was something he needed before I left, but I was too busy to listen to him, plus I was annoyed with Scarlet. So I ignored his plea. Therefore..." There was the briefest of pauses. "...the blame lies with me."

Zack looked at his friend in perplexity, his mouth opening and closing silently like a fish, his eyes all agog.

"You like him!" he said at last, his voice hushed and awed, a hint of surprise in his tone. "I mean, you actually like the boy."

He fully expected a frosty silence, or a sharp retort in return, at the very least a glare to be cast his way, but instead Sephiroth, the fine upstanding general who never showed any emotion whatsoever, actually gave a small smile, and blushed.

Zack stood there, amazed, as the pale high cheekbones of his best friend took on a delightful pale pink hue, and he dropped his shining green eyes like a doe eyed girl.

This was something Zack had thought he would never witness, Sephiroth, in the first gushing grip of love, and with a prisoner no less, a prisoner who possibly hated his silver haired captive with a vengeance, and who would probably never return the same feelings back.

A part of Zack felt sorry for Sephiroth. Of all the paths in the world for his heart to follow, he had to go with the most complicated. But then, he mused, Sephiroth never was one to take the easy route in life. Why should finding love be any different?

"I knew it! I just knew it!" Zack exclaimed, slapping both his hands down upon his knees, a huge grin breaking out over his face. "You liked him from the moment you set eyes on him, didn't you? That's why you took him as your pet. Did your heart go pitter-patter when you saw him that first time in his cell, all chained up and beaten and defenceless? What was it about him that made him stand out as special, his spark of rebellion, even then, when faced with certain defeat?"

The green eyes lifted again, and the light that had been playing in them was shrouded, as Sephiroth retook control of his inner emotions.

"Zack...calm yourself down. For one, the boy is not my pet. He is simply my prisoner. And for two...I can assure you that I do not like him, at least not in the way that you are implying."

The dark haired man gave an exaggerated snort of laughter, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, okay Seph. I've seen the possessive way you escort that boy through the corridors these days, your hand on the small of his back. What happened to pulling him on his leash?"

The blush crept up again on the general's face, and the beautiful small smile that Zack rarely saw returned.

"I can't help it, Zack," Sephiroth finally admitted, his voice low, his eyes holding his friends gaze. "Every time I look at the boy I get a lump in my throat and I can't swallow. I want to continuously stare at him, even when he's just kneeling there, quiet and obedient. My fingers ache to be removed from my gloves, to reach out and touch his soft, smooth skin. And I hate that. It's a sign of weakness. That's why I have to hurt him, to eradicate these emotions that are rising for him. I don't want to feel like this, and its all his fault, for being so damn attractive."

"You're blaming him, for what you feel for him?" Zack asked incredulously. It would be just like the haughty general to lay the blame for something he couldn't control or understand at someone else's door. "I can't believe you Seph. Why don't you just admit it...you're falling in love with the boy."

"In love? Does being in love allow you to hurt that person? Does it let you get excited at leaving marks on his bare back? Well Zack, does it?"

"Does the boy get excited too? I think he does, or else you wouldn't be doing it," Zack countered.

Sephiroth's blush deepened, and he tore his eyes away from his friends scrutinizing stare to look out of the window.

"You think too much," he said simply.